Shoe supporting means



Nov. 10, 1931.

F. V. HART ET AL SHOE SUPPORTING MEANS Filed Oct. 28. 1929 v 28 been Patented Nov. 7 10, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FRED HART, OF LYNN, AND HERMAN A. DAVENPORT, F BROCKTON, MASSACHU- SE'ITS, AssIGNon-s T0 UNITnnsHo NEW JERSEY, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY SHOE SUPPORTING MEANS Application filed. October 28, 1929. Serial No. 403,005.

This invention relates to means for supporting shoes in the process of manufacture, and is herein illustrated as applied to a machine of a well-known type for leveling the soles of shoes, although it is to be understood that it is not limited in utility to machines of that particular kinc.

Leveling machines of the above-mentioned type are commonly provided with a jack for supporting the shoe and last bottom upward, comprising a toe rest arranged to underlie the forepart of the shoe and a spindle for enga Qing the heel end of the last in its spindle ole. the spindle being mounted on a tipping block which by its action on the spindle in jacking the shoe serves to tip the last in such manner as to press the forepart of the shoe firmly down upon the toe rest. In view of the strain on the last under the heavy leveling pressure, it is desirable to support the heel end of the last otherwise than by the spindle alone, preferably by engaging it in front of the spindle, i. e., nearer the toe end of thelast than the spindle. It has accordingly proposed to provide the tipping block with an upwardly extending lug for engaging the top face of the heel end portion or cone of'the last in front of the spindle. It

has been found. however, that because of the fact that the spindle never fits very tightlyin the spindle hole of the last and the further fact that there is some tendency for the spindle or the thimble that lines the spindle hole to spring or yield under the force applied in jacking the shoe, the tipping block is likely to tip more than the last, so that the abovementioned lug on the tipping block is separated somewhat from that face of the last which it is intended to engage. Under these conditions the leveling pressure may result in forcing the last farther down on the spindle until it engages the lug again, and by reason of the cramping action'of the spindle in the.

spindle hole this greatly increases the bending strain on the last with danger of breaking the last.

It is an object of the present invention to avoid undesirable results of the character above mentioned, and for the purposes in view the invention accordingly provides a manner any tendency novel last-supporting-means so constructed and arranged that its supporting relationto vided, for supporting engagement with the top of the heel end of the last in front of the spindle, a member which is mounted in the tipping block to tip with the spindle and E MACHINERY CORPORATION, OF PATERSON, v

thus to be positioned always at the same distance from the spindle but is slida'ble inthe block in directions heightwise of the last and is maintained at substantially the same height irrespective of the tipping of the block. To determine the height of the memher ,it is so arranged, in the construction herein shown, that its lower end rests upon a relatively stationary support upon which the tipping block is pivotally mounted. In this for the supporting memberto withdraw from engagement with the last by reason of movement of the tipping block relatively to the lastis entirely obviated, and a firm support for the heel end of the last is insured in any position which the parts may assume in the jacking of the shoe. The invention will now be more particularly described by reference to the accompanying drawing and thereafter pointed out in the claims. Y

The'drawing shows in side elevation a portion of a leveling machine of awell-known type in which the invention is embodied, with parts of the structure broken away. Characteristic features of machines of this type are illustrated and described in various prior United States LettersPatent, including Letters Patent No. 1,667,761, granted on May l,

and will be described herein. Heavy-leveling pressure is applied to the'bottom of the shoe by means of a leveling roll 2. To support the shoe bottom upward to receive the leveling pressure, there is provided a jack comprising a toe post i'and aheel post 6,

12 which has fast thereon a these parts being relatively adjustable for shoes of different lengths. On the toe post 4 is a toe rest comprising a soft rubber pad 8 for supporting the toe end of the shoe. On the heel post 6 there is pivotally mounted at 10, for tipping movement about an axis ex tending widthwise of the shoe, a tipping block spindle 1 1 for engaging the heel end of the last in its spindle hole a. After the last has been mounted on the spindle 1 1, tipping movement is imparted to the block 12 to cause the spindle to tip the last and thereby to press the fore part of the shoe firmly down upon the toe rest 8. The block is thus moved by means of a hand lever 16 and a link 18 through connections more fully shown and described in Letters Patent No. 1,719,158, granted on July 2,

1929. upon an application of E. E. Winkley and H. A. Davenport.

To assist in supporting the last and shoe against the heavy leveling pressure, and especially in withstanding the strain on the last in the application of pressure to the shank portion of the shoe. t is desirable to engage the top face 20 of the heel end portion or cone of the last in front of the spindle 1 1, i. e., n a location nearer the toe end of the last than the spindle. For this purpose the present invention. as herein exemplified, provides a pin 22 which is mounted in the tipping block 12 and has an enlarged head 2 1 for engaging the face 20 on the last. In order to control the pin in such manner as to maintain it in proper supporting relation to the last,

it is slidable n the block in directions heightwise of the last or in parallel relation to the spindle 14, and its lower end is arranged to rest upon an inclined face 26 on the relatively stationary heel post 6, the end of the pin being beveled for engagement with this face. The pin is prevented from turning and also from being removed from the block 12 by a screw 28 which is threaded in the block and projects into a slot formed in one side of the pin. It will thus be seen that the pin 22 is mounted to tip withthe block 12and the spindle 1 1 and is accordingly always at the same distance from the spindle, but that the heightof its last-engaging head 24 is determined independently of the tipping of the spindle. Preferably and as shown the face 26 on the heel post 6 is so formed that the head of the pin is maintained at substantially the same height in anyposition that the block 12 may assume in jacking a shoe. Insurance is thus afforded that the heel end of the last will continue to rest on the pin at the end of the jacking operation and will thus be firmly supported when'the leveling pressure is applied to the shoe, despite the fact that in jacking the shoe the tipping block 12 may to some extent move relatively to the last by reason of the play of the spindle 1 1 in the spindle hole of the last and the tendency of some of the parts to spring or yield.

Having described the invention, what we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In shoe-supporting means, the combi- 7 nation with a rest for supporting the forepart of a shoe on a last, and a spindle arranged to engage the heel end of the last in its spindle hole and mounted for tipping movement to tip the last and thereby press the forepart of the shoe on said rest, of a device arranged to support the top of the heel end of the last, said device being mounted to tip with the spindle but otherwise controlled independently of the spindle to maintam 1t 1n supporting relation to the last irrespective of any tipping of the spindle relatlvely to the last.

2, In shoe-supporting means, the combination with a rest for supporting the forepart of a shoe on a last, and a spindlearranged to engage the heel end of the last in its spindle hole and mounted for tipping movement to tip the last and thereby press tne forepart of the shoe on said rest, of a member arranged to support the top of the heel end of the last in front ofthe spindle, sa d member being mounted to tip with the, spindle to maintain it always at the same dis-' tance from the spindle, and means for controlling said member independently of the spindle to maintain it in supporting relation to the last irrespective of any tipping of the spindle relatively to the last. I I C 3 In shoe-supporting means, the combination with a rest for supporting the forepart of a shoe on a last, and. a spindlearranged to engage the heel end of the last in- .L r 1* its spindle hole and mounted for tipping movement to tip the last and thereby press the forepart, of the shoe onsaid restu of a member arranged to support the top of the heel end of the last in front of the spindle loo said member being mounted to tip with the H spindle with provision for relative movement between them in directions heightw se of the last, and means for controlling such relative of the shoe on said rest, of a member mount-' 1 ed to tip with the tipping block and arranged to support the top ofthe heel end of the last, and means for controlling said member independently of the tipping block to maintain it in supporting relation to the last irrespec- 'movement to maintain the member in sup-,-

part of a shoe on a last, and a tipping block provided with a spindle for engaging the heel end of the last in its spindle hole and mounted for tipping movement to cause the spindle to tip the last and thereby press the forepart of the shoe on said rest, of a memher mounted to tip with the tipping block and arranged to support the top of the heel end of the last in front of the spindle, said member and the tipping block being relatively movable in directions heightwise of the last, and means for controlling such rela tive movement to maintain the member in supporting relation to the last irrespective of any tipping of the tipping block relatively to the last.

6. In shoe-supporting means, the combination with a rest for supporting the forepart of a shoe on a last positioned bottom upward, and a tipping block provided with an upwardly projecting spindle for engaging the heel end of the last in its spindle hole and mounted for tipping movement to cause the spindle to tip the last and thereby press the forepart of the shoe down on said rest, of a member mounted in the tipping block to tip therewith and arranged to support the top of the heel end of the last in front of the spindle, said member and thetipping block being relatively movable in upward and downward directions, and means for controlling such relative movement to determine the height of said member independently of the tipping movement of the tipping block.

7. In shoe-supporting means, the combination with a rest for supporting the forepart of a shoe on a. last positioned bottom upward, and a tipping block provided with an upwardly projecting spindle for engaging the heel end of the last in its spindle hole and mounted for tipping movement to cause the spindle to tip the last and thereby press the forepart of the shoe down on said rest, of a member mounted in the tipping block to tip'therewith and arranged to support the top of the heel end of the last in front of the spindle, said member and the tipping block being rela- 1 tively movable in upward and downward directions, and means for controlling said member to maintain. it at substantially the same height irrespective of the tipping movement of the tipping block.

8. In shoe-supporting means, the combination with a rest for supportingthe forepart of a shoe on a last positioned bottom upward, and a tipping block provided with an upwardly projecting spindle for engaging the heel end of the last in its spindle hole'and mounted for tipping movement to cause the spindle to tip the last and thereby press the forepart of the shoe down on said rest, of a member slidingly mounted in the tipping block in front of said spindle with its upper end in position for supporting engagement with the top of the heel end-of the last, and

a relativelystationary abutment arranged to engage the lower end of said member to determine its height independently of the tipping movement of the tipping'block.

9. In shoe-supporting means, the combination with a rest for supporting the forepart of a shoe on a last positioned bottom upward, a heel post, a'tipping block provided with an upwardly projecting spindle for engaging theheel end of the last in its spindle hole and mounted on the heel post for tipping move ment to cause the spindle to tip the last and thereby press the forepart of the shoe down on said rest, of an upwardly extending pin slidingly mounted in the tipping block in front of said spindle with its upper end in position to support the top of the heel end of the last, said pin being arranged to rest at its lower end on the heel post to determine its height independently of the tipping movement of the tipping block.

10. In shoe-supporting means, a member provided with a spindle for engaging the heel end of a last in its spindle hole and mounted for tipping movement to cause the spindle to tip the last, another member movably mounted in said first-named member and arranged to support the top of the heel end of the last, and means for controlling said other member to maintain it in supporting relation to the last irrespective of any tipping of the first member relatively to the last.

11. In shoe-supporting means, the combination with a rest for supporting the forepart of a shoe on a last, of a member mounted for tipping movement to tip the shoe and last and thereby press the forepart of the shoe on said rest, another member mounted to tip with said first-named member and arranged to support the top of the heel end of the last, said members being relatively movable heightwise of the last, and means for controlling such relative movement to maintain said other member in supporting relation to the last irrespective of the tipping of the members.

12. In shoe-supporting means, the combination with a rest for supporting the forepart of a shoe on a last and a spindle arranged to engage the heel end of the last in its spindle hole and mounted for tipping movement to with the spindle, and means for positively controlling said member independently of the spindle to maintain it in supporting relation to the last irrespective of any tipping of the spindle relatively to the last.

13. In shoe-supporting means, the combi Iii nation with a rest for supporting the forepart of a shoe on a last and amember provided with a spindle for engaging the heel end of the last in its spindle hole and mounted for tipping movement to cause the spindle to tip the last and thereby press the forepart of the shoe on said rest, of a pin movably mounted in said member and extending heightwise of the last for supporting the top of the heel-end portion of the last in front of said spindle, and means unsupported by said memher for positively controlling the pin during the tipping movement of said member.

In testimony whereof We have signed our names to this specification.

- FRED V. HART.

HERMAN A. DAVENPORT. 

